Rasing Money for the American Heart Association

On October 17th The American Heart Association will be holding the Bay Area Heart Walk in Kemah.  We have split up into four teams at ISP (by operating shift) to sign up walkers and encourage donations.

Click HERE to join my team, the "A-Team," as a walker.

Click HERE to donate to the American Heart Association

Since 1924 the American Heart Association has helped protect people from the ravages of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, the Nation's No.1 and No.3 killers, claim more than 910,000 American lives a year. The association invests more than $540 million a year for research, professional and public education, and advocacy so people across America can live stronger, longer lives.

Saturday was ISP's company picnic at Moody Garden's Palm Beach.  We had the entire park reserved for ISP - it was awesome.  Sean spent 2+ hours in the water playing with other ISP kids.

The package deal included a pass to our choice of another Moody Garden attraction.  We went to the aquarium.  Sean has been very interested in animals and animal families, especially fish and sting rays.

Early Sunday morning Elissa was a surprise visitor.  After she woke up the two cousins were inseparable the rest to the day playing pretend games.  We took a trip to the park and played a little there and then had lunch at Sonic - putting the nail in he coffin of Dave's attempt to try be  healthy for the week.

Friday Night Lights

Friday night lights at the Friendswood Mustang's stadium.  Sean's first high school game and Dave's first in 20+ years.  We explained to Sean that the Mustangs were his team, the Aggies are Mom's team, the Longhorns are Dad's team and the Buckeyes are Grandpa's team.  The Mustangs won 42-7 over the Nederland Bulldogs.

New stats and a busy weekend at home

Sean visited the doctor last week to get his flu shot - he measured 37 inches and weighed in at 29 lbs.  His verbal skills and vocabulary continue to increase. The past week he has been all about matching: "I need the bread that matches the hot dog!" (not a tortilla, as was offered.) This evening he asked me to sit "criss cross applesauce," which apparently is the modern terminology for sitting with your legs crossed.

Sean and Mommy get ready for bed

Sean and Grandma play "boat"

No more monkeys jumping on the bed....

Sean at Kemah on a rainy day

Labor Day weekend in Kerrville

Labor Day weekend, at Nana and Grandpa's house was a fun and exhausting weekend.  Barbara and her friends celebrated Beth's birthday on Saturday while Dave, Sean and the rest of the Boyces watched football.  On Sunday, after a tasty lunch and no nap the day before, it was just a matter of who would fall first, Sean or Nana.

Late August visit from Uncle Joe!

Uncle Joe came to visit in late August.  He brought Sean some great books and we tried out a vegetarian restaurant in Houston.  It was great to see him.

Insulation Weekend

After getting our latest electric bill, I was spurred to action to reduce it, even though it was not as bad as a should have been. Month over month it is about 30% higher for a house twice the size. Most of the attic had been covered in R-19 batts. In many places, about 30%, it had been pealed back. We replaced all pulled R-19 with R-30 and used loose R-19 to pack the edges. We also spread several rolls of R-30 perpendicular to the original insulation. Sean took a break to ride his horse. (and contemplate Favre playing for the Vikings.)

Rothisberger

Typical of places missing insulation

August Weekend Work and Fun

Sean and Dave spent part of Saturday replacing the kitchen sink water faucet and accessories. Sean actually was helpful, when he was not standing on my stomach while I was under the sink. On Saturday night Barb, Darlene, Heather, my sister and my mother all went to Phantom of the Opera. Sean an I watched Monster Trucks online. On Sunday we all trooped to the beach for some fun in the sun.

Ohio 2009 Part III

Monday (7/27/09) we split up. Sean, Elissa, Nana, Grandpa and Heather stayed at Lakeside while Dave and the three Boyce kids took the ferry to Kelly's Island. Both groups had a great time and got back together for dinner at Lakeside. After dinner the girls and kids went for ice cream and the boys smoked cigars on the lake in honor of Ted's birthday. All and all we all had a great time in Lakeside and plan to return as a family.

Sean and Elissa were big fans of the sandboxes in Lakeside

For Tadd: Yes we were passed by a scary guy driving a riding lawnmower (for at least 0.5 miles that we saw!)

The glacial grooves on Kelly's Island

Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant cooling tower seen from Kelly's Island, about 20 miles to the east.

Sean practices his short game - watch out Uncle Greg!

Another, even fancier, sandbox

Nana and Grandpa pushing the grandkids

Ohio Part II

Sunday morning Dave finally made it out for a run for the first time in 6+ weeks. Half the run was on the Cleveland MetroParks trails that ring center Cleveland.

Late on Sunday morning we got all of our ducks in a row and started heading towards Lakeside. We went by Great Grandman and Greatgrandpa's graves on the way up.

We took the slow route up along highways 2 and 6 - both scenic byways because of parks, old nice homes and old industry to look at.

We stopped for lunch at Quaker's Steak and Lube: Great food and a great place for the kids to watch the boats go by while waiting for our food.

The we drove the remaining 20 minutes to Lakeside and checked into the Lakeside Hotel - built in 1857.

After that we walked around to see the sights: water, beaches, cottages, shops, etc.

From 6pm to 7pm we watched the band Pantasia from Findlay, OH - an all steel drum band. They were very good.

After dinner at Sloopy's we split up to get the kids in bed or to play minature golf. Dave was trounced by his brothers' in law.

Elissa and Sean watch boats in the harbor from Quakers'

Sean and Ellissa pose as fried food

Pantasia, a steel drum band from Findlay High School, performs - they were good

Sean drums along on a tree

Ohio 2009 Part I

After relatively smooth flights Friday the entire Boyce clan from Texas gathered in Cleveland to visit relatives from Nana's side of the family (the Ross clan.) Everyone is staying at Sean's Great Grandma Ross' house in North Royalton. Saturday we toured the port and the Cuyahoga River on the Good Times III tour boat - a two hour tour. Saturday evening we went to David and JoAnn Ross' house for dinner. A good time was by all, catching up and watching the kids.

Kathleen (Nana) and her three brothers and three children, husband, mother, two neices and two grand children

The Good Times III

A fire boat on the river

Nick and Elissa on the Good Times III

Cleveland is also known as "The City of Bridges" There are an impressive number of fixed, lift, swing and jack knife bridges over the river, most still in use. The following link has pictures of the different types of bridges. The bridge in the foreground, above, is a lift bridge that had just lifted to let us through. Cleveland Bridges

Downtown Cleveland skyline. The taller building on the left is the Terminal Tower. This 52 story building was the 2nd tallest building in the world when finished in 1930 and was the tallest building in the U.S. outside of New York City until 1964. (when the Prudential Center in Boston MA was completed.) There are now about 20 buildings in Houston alone that exceed the height of the Terminal Tower.

Aunt JoAnn and her family put together great gift bags for Sean and Elissa. The most fun was Elissa's box of sidewalk chalk. Here, Grandpa helps out.

Jeannie helps Elissa and Sean color

Mid-July

July has been a busy month for the Pastas with lots of busy weekends. Unfortunately, we have not been very good at picture taking this month!

For the 3rd we went to Dave's work friends 4th of July party in Beach City at his house on the Bay. He has a huge swimming pool that Sean loved. He even got hit in the head with a water polo ball and just said "ouch!" Barbara hit her engagement ring on a door frame, checked to make sure the diamond was still there (it was,) and 10 minutes later it was not! We were a little horrified. However, by means means we cannot explain, it showed up on our bedroom floor two days later. We are still trying to figure that one out.

On the 4th we celebrated the 4th Friendswood style, with a huge parade down main street (I am not kidding - it was impressive) followed by a concert at the park.

On the 5th we went to a party to celebrate the birth of Tyler Elliott. It was hosted by Barbara, Heather and Carol and was a smashing success. Tyler (as in the Tyler Rose - Earl Campbell) has had some difficulties and has not yet made it out of the hospital, so please keep him in your prayers.

Last week Barbara was in San Francisco for a week for business. Daddy, having lost his teddy bear, slept with Sean all week - not a good idea of course. Two days after Barbara got back we coaxed Sean back to his bed after having played "tent" in the living room all evening by making a tent over his bed. What kid could resist?

Mom says goodnight

Sean says goodnight!

A sneak peak from the Florida pictures that still have not been published!

After a very fun weekend Dad decided to take a beach day from work. Mom hastily rearranged her schedule too.

Dad and Sean start with a small hole

The hole keeps getting bigger!

On the ferry to Bolivar. We saw lots of dolphins. We also saw lots of missing homes on Bolivar, still being re-built since Ike

Dad was very impressed by the amount of water this ship was pushing with its bow.

Letters To Grandparents

1) It is amazing - we posted twice on the way to Florida and not once since. We are still processing pictures.

2) Sunday on Sesame Street was about writing letters. Sean wrote letters to both sets of Grandparents and then we walked to the post office to mail them.

Sean needed fortification before setting out for the post office. He would not let his letters go, though!

On the way to the Post Office

I can't reach it this way...

I've got it now!